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> we'd still build many roads "Many" is doing a lot of work in your claim. I recently moved to Houston where it feels like every road is a six lane stroad. If

> we'd still build many roads "Many" is doing a lot of work in your claim. I recently moved to Houston where it feels like every road is a six lane stroad. If transportation were reduced to mass transit, bike lanes, and commercial transit like deliveries, how many of those roads would we need?

skeeter2020 3y ago
No one serious about decent public transit, reducing personal automobile use or transport by bike lives in Houston. In addition those 6-lane highways are all toll roads so they shouldn't be counted as subsidizing private car traffic.
- hombre_fatal 3y ago
  Like any city, Houston has its own set of pro-pedestrian urbanists who are stuck here and are forced to promote the changes they want to see. Very few people are able to shop around for cities based on their car culture ideals. > In addition those 6-lane highways are all toll roads 6-lane means total lanes, so 3-4 in each direction like Richmond Ave or Westheimer Rd in Houston which you have to take just to get to the gym or grocery store. But I think you need to go to Houston on Google Maps and look at all of the freeways that are 5-6 lanes in each direction bursting out like tentacles from the center in all directions. It seems like you're not aware that these exist?
gerad 3y ago
I just got back from the Netherlands, which is an interesting contrast. They use probably the same amount of space as a six lane stroad in some places, but instead of being entirely for cars, it looks like this: - 1 or 2 car lanes (each way) - a tram line (one each way on each side of the street, or in the middle) - a separated, 2 way bike lane on either side of the street - a separated (from the bike lane) sidewalk - a canal As you can imagine, this takes up a lot of space. Despite this, things feel much more walkable. The reason? No enormous parking lots around every store. Parking is generally almost entirely done at P+R parking lots outside of town, then taking public transit in.
- hombre_fatal 3y ago
  Even Mexican cities like Guadalajara and basically every pueblito are more hospitable. You can walk from your home to a cafe or corner shop for fresh produce almost everywhere I lived in Mexico. Not until I moved back to the US did I remember how us sad Americans (or at least Texans) have to pile into a car just to drive to a cafe, though inside the city/suburbs this is also caused by zoning laws. Granted, I'm just ranting. But I forgot how bad it was. Fortunately, some of this is very slowly changing. Even Houston is laying down more bike paths: https://houstonbikeplan.org/houston-bike-plan-map/ https://houstonbikeplan.org/houston-bike-plan-map/

skeeter2020 3y ago

No one serious about decent public transit, reducing personal automobile use or transport by bike lives in Houston. In addition those 6-lane highways are all toll roads so they shouldn't be counted as subsidizing private car traffic.

hombre_fatal 3y ago
Like any city, Houston has its own set of pro-pedestrian urbanists who are stuck here and are forced to promote the changes they want to see. Very few people are able to shop around for cities based on their car culture ideals. > In addition those 6-lane highways are all toll roads 6-lane means total lanes, so 3-4 in each direction like Richmond Ave or Westheimer Rd in Houston which you have to take just to get to the gym or grocery store. But I think you need to go to Houston on Google Maps and look at all of the freeways that are 5-6 lanes in each direction bursting out like tentacles from the center in all directions. It seems like you're not aware that these exist?

gerad 3y ago

I just got back from the Netherlands, which is an interesting contrast. They use probably the same amount of space as a six lane stroad in some places, but instead of being entirely for cars, it looks like this: - 1 or 2 car lanes (each way) - a tram line (one each way on each side of the street, or in the middle) - a separated, 2 way bike lane on either side of the street - a separated (from the bike lane) sidewalk - a canal As you can imagine, this takes up a lot of space. Despite this, things feel much more walkable. The reason? No enormous parking lots around every store. Parking is generally almost entirely done at P+R parking lots outside of town, then taking public transit in.

hombre_fatal 3y ago
Even Mexican cities like Guadalajara and basically every pueblito are more hospitable. You can walk from your home to a cafe or corner shop for fresh produce almost everywhere I lived in Mexico. Not until I moved back to the US did I remember how us sad Americans (or at least Texans) have to pile into a car just to drive to a cafe, though inside the city/suburbs this is also caused by zoning laws. Granted, I'm just ranting. But I forgot how bad it was. Fortunately, some of this is very slowly changing. Even Houston is laying down more bike paths: https://houstonbikeplan.org/houston-bike-plan-map/ https://houstonbikeplan.org/houston-bike-plan-map/